Father Xia had originally thought his old friend was coming over for a drink and a chat.
He hadn't expected the other party to produce a notarized proof of equity transfer.
"Old Lian, what do you mean by this?" Father Xia looked at Director Lian in disbelief.
"This is what I mean," Director Lian placed the proof of equity transfer on the table. "I've always wanted to travel the world; I've been planning for it for years. My health is getting worse, and my wife's health isn't what it used to be. If I don't seize the opportunity now, I fear I'll never get the chance again."
No matter how Father Xia tried to persuade him, Director Lian's attitude was resolute.
"Then, is this transfer of your shares at market price or..." Father Xia looked at Director Lian. If it were at market price, he temporarily didn't have that much cash on hand, but he could scrape it together with a little time.
"This..." Director Lian felt a pang in his heart when this was brought up, yet he forced a stiff smile. "I have to praise this child, Qingtian."
"She came over yesterday and gave me the money. Today, I'm just here to complete the final transfer contract procedures." Director Lian looked at Father Xia with a subtle tone. "Your daughter, heh."
"Ah?" Father Xia suddenly felt that something was amiss.
But at this moment, Xia Qingtian had already come downstairs. After a brief greeting, she sat on the sofa and, with Father Xia as witness, proceeded with the contract with Director Lian.
Signing, fingerprinting, all done in one go.
Director Lian clenched his fist at his side, knowing there was no turning back this time.
Xia Qingtian also smiled and shook hands with Director Lian, saying, "Uncle Lian, thank you for your contributions to Xia Shi over the years, and thank you for being friends with my father for so many years. I wish you a smooth journey and a pleasant trip."
Director Lian looked at Xia Qingtian's face, his eyes almost sparking, but he could only force a dry laugh, found an excuse, and left the Xia residence.
Seeing Director Lian leave just like that, Father Xia scratched the back of his head and looked at Xia Qingtian, asking, "Qingtian, how much did you pay for the shares? This is fifteen percent of the equity. Where did you get so much money?"
"Borrowed," Xia Qingtian didn't want Father Xia to know too much, so she casually said, "I borrowed some startup capital from Mr. Gu."
"What are you borrowing money from Mr. Gu for? This is ridiculous!" Father Xia's head started to hurt. "Startup capital? What kind of startup are you doing?"
Xia Qingtian waved the equity transfer contract in her hand.
"You! Your startup is acquiring your own company's shares? Is this how you start a business!" Father Xia was so angry he wanted to hit Xia Qingtian on the head.
"Dad! You! Be polite to your own shareholder! I'm the second largest shareholder of Xia Shi now! You can't hit me on the head!" Xia Qingtian immediately held the contract over her head to protect herself and protested.
"You!" Father Xia choked, increasingly feeling that Xia Qingtian was too reckless. "How much money did you borrow from Mr. Gu?"
"That's startup capital," Xia Qingtian corrected Father Xia's words, then silently held up a hand to show a "five."
"Five hundred million?" Father Xia asked with a frown.
"Fifty million," Xia Qingtian said in a small voice.
"Fifty million to buy fifteen percent of Xia Shi's shares? Who are you kidding!" Father Xia raised his hand to hit Xia Qingtian. Seeing Xia Qingtian flinch as if scared, he didn't follow through with the blow, only slapping the table.
Xia Qingtian actually wanted to say that she had only spent ten million.
But ten million sounded even more outrageous, so she chuckled and said, "Actually, Uncle Lian has a secret he doesn't want me to tell you."
"What secret?" Father Xia said.
"Uncle Lian is actually... terminally ill and doesn't have long to live. This global trip, while sounding nice, is actually his way of fulfilling his last wishes." Xia Qingtian was fabricating a story with a straight face.
"What!" Father Xia's expression changed, and he stood up abruptly, reaching for his phone to contact Director Lian. Xia Qingtian quickly stopped him, "Dad! Don't you know Uncle Lian? If he had even the slightest alternative, he wouldn't be so calmly accepting his fate!"
"His arrangements are made so that you can rest assured, so that he can leave with dignity. Why must you make Uncle Lian die without peace!" Xia Qingtian spoke with great righteousness and genuine emotion, convincing even herself.
As expected, Father Xia slumped back onto the sofa, his body drained, and sighed heavily with his head bowed.
Seeing that Father Xia had believed her excuse, Xia Qingtian secretly breathed a sigh of relief and sat next to him, saying softly, "Dad, what we should do now is manage Xia Shi better. That's how we can live up to Uncle Lian's heartfelt intentions."
"I know, I know," Father Xia wasn't unaware of anything, but learning that his old friend of so many years was nearing the end of his life...
His heart ached!
Claiming he needed some quiet time, Father Xia got up and walked towards the study upstairs.
Xia Qingtian looked at Father Xia's dejected back, feeling guilty all along.
She didn't want to lie to Father Xia, but when the truth was more cruel than lies, Xia Qingtian decided it was best to let Father Xia live in that beautiful lie.
She would solve Xia Shi's crisis and systematically remove the tumors surrounding Father Xia.
In her previous life, she had failed to fulfill her filial duties and hadn't done what a daughter of the Xia family should.
In this life, she would accomplish everything, ensuring Xia Shi wouldn't repeat its past mistakes, nor would Father Xia and Aunt Liu meet the same tragic end.
That evening, after dinner, Father Xia had somewhat recovered and called Xia Qingtian into the study. "I'll have someone transfer fifty million to you tomorrow. You can return the money you borrowed from Mr. Gu."
"That's my startup capital..." Xia Qingtian mumbled.
Father Xia glared at her at the sound, then said with a look of helplessness, "Even if it's your startup capital, you should have asked me for your first batch of startup funds! Instead of reaching out to outsiders, especially someone who is a partner of Xia Shi!"
"Oh..." Xia Qingtian then stuck out her tongue and said, "Alright then, I'll sell you some of the shares I currently hold at market price... I'll... I'll transfer fifty million worth of shares to you, and we'll complete the contract as soon as the money arrives tomorrow!"
"You bought fifteen percent of the shares from Old Lian for fifty million, and now you're selling them to me at market price?" Father Xia looked at Xia Qingtian in surprise.
"Startup, you know..." Xia Qingtian said, fidgeting with her hands behind her back.
Father Xia slapped his forehead helplessly.
Good heavens, his daughter was using her father to "farm the wool" for her startup.
The next day, Father Xia still transferred fifty million to Xia Qingtian. Xia Qingtian transferred some of her shares to Father Xia at market price and walked out of Xia Shi's main gate with a smile.
As soon as she was outside Xia Shi, the smile on Xia Qingtian's face vanished.
Next, she needed to address the breach of contract issue for that project.